In Memory

Karen Knapp

Karen Marie Knapp

Karen Marie Knapp, 51, died unexpectedly August 2, 2007.

Karen was born and raised in Akron and had resided in Milwaukee the past 33 years. She retired as library clerk for the Milwaukee County Library and was a member of St. John the Evangelist Cathedral Parish in Milwaukee. She was a Hamm Radio operator and avid blogger (From The Anchor Hold).

She was preceded in death by her mother, Janet "Mary," and is survived by her father, Lawrence E. Knapp; brothers and sisters, Thomas, Michael, James, Laura (Randy) Alderman, Susan (Jim) Spangler, Victoria (Craig) Brechbuhler and Christine (Mark) Litteral; and eight nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday in The Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 1930 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. Mass of the Resurrection will be 10 a.m. Monday in Immaculate Heart of Mary. Final resting place, HolyCrossCemetery. Memorials may be made to your local food bank in Karen's name

Karen Marie Knapp, who blogged at From the Anchor Hold, has passed away. Mark Shea has information about Karen and her passing. Karen was the first person to link to my personal blog, An Aid to Memory, after I became Catholic in 2004. Apparently she was suffering from an incurable disease, but it obviously did not slow down her mind, as her insightful and charitable blog posts show. In the image above, Karen is in the middle. This image comes from her personal site. Mark Shea has a quote from Karen which I think is apt, and one that I think we should heed:

I live alone. I have no kin less than a full day’s drive away. I’m chronically ill with a disease that is incurable and fatal. Though I am doing all the things I need to do to collect on the “15 to 20 years of medically manageable symptoms”, such as taking all my medicines, doing my physical therapy, using my oxygen, and so on, the fact is that I could easily be Called at any time. And the first notice of my passing, when my body finally stops working entirely, is very likely to be a blaring loudspeaker just like the one in the cafeteria this noontime, at some hospital or skilled nursing facility. I hope that when my time comes, and the loudspeakers start hollering about my room, that there is someone who takes pity on me and prays for me. It’s on that list of the Things Catholics Do, the Works of Mercy: Pray for both the living and the dead. – Karen Marie Knapp